In Spring 1915 the 56th and 59th Bataillons de Chasseurs à pied (Light Infantry) deployed to the Bois des Caures, 16 kilometers north of Verdun. They were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Émile Driant. Driant had served in the French Army from 1877 to 1906 and commanded 1st Battalion of Chasseurs. He resigned his commission and entered politics in 1910. On the outbreak of war in 1914 Driant was recalled to the Army and would command the 56th and 59th Battalions of Chasseurs.
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| Lt.Col Émile Driant |
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| Lt.Col Émile Driant Bois des Caures |
At 07:15 on 21st February 1916 the Germans began bombarding French positions on the west bank of the River Meuse, the opening move of the Battle of Verdun. Colonel Briant and his chasseurs were pounded by German artillery.
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| German Bombardment Bois des Caures |
At 1600 hours the German Infantry began their assault and advanced against the Chasseurs. Driant and his men fought heroically to hold the German onslaught delaying their progress, which gave time to the French High Command move reinforcements to the sector.
Despite the Chasseurs valiant efforts, the Germans began to outflank the defenders and their position became untenable. On the afternoon of the 22nd February Colonel Driant gave the order for the remnants of the battalions to withdraw. As they did so Driant was killed, and only 118 of his men, out of 1,200, were able to extract them selves.
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| Colonel Driant falls withdrawing from Bois des Caures |
Colonel Driant was buried with full military honours by the Germans. That burial location is marked by a monument.
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| WW1 Burial location Lt Colonel Driant |
Colonel Driants body was later re-interred where his fell. A monument to commemorate him and his Chasseurs was built at the location. The monument includes the graves of Chasseurs who's identity is unknown.
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| Bois des Caures 1916 |
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| Bois des Caures 2024 |
The actions of Colonel Driant and his Chasseurs are commemorated annually on the 21st February.
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